The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 23, 1996
Filed:
Dec. 30, 1993
Harijs B Marovskis, Plymouth, MN (US);
Brian N Lipsius, Chanhassen, MN (US);
Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA, Pully, CH;
Abstract
A folding crate for holding packages includes a base having a substantially planar support surface for supporting packages and a plurality of side walls positioned along the sides of the base. A hinge pin member having a generally oval or elliptical cross-sectional shape is located along each side of the base. The hinge pin member is oriented in such a manner that the major axis of the cross-section is positioned substantially perpendicular to the plane of the support surface while the minor axis of the cross-section is located substantially parallel to the plane of the support surface. The bottom end of each of the side walls is provided with a knuckle for mounting the side walls on the base and a through hole is formed in each knuckle for loosely receiving one of the hinge pin members. The knuckle on each side wall also includes a slotted opening for allowing the side wall to be mounted on the hinge pin member. The width of the slotted opening is less than the largest dimension of the cross-sectional shape of the hinge pin member so that the side wall is inhibited from becoming detached from the hinge pin member when the side wall is vertically oriented. In addition, one of the side walls can be constructed such that its center of gravity is located inwardly of the longitudinal axis of the respective hinge pin member when the one side wall is in the upright vertical position.